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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What two systems does Hobbes define within a commonwealth?
(a) open and closed
(b) democrat and republican
(c) tyranny and ordinary
(d) private and political

2. How does Hobbes identify political systems?
(a) thise which are regulated by majority consensus
(b) those which are only governed by an assembly
(c) those which are entirely run by negotiation
(d) those which are granted status by the sovereign

3. When is there nothing illegal or unjust in any action done by anyone?
(a) when the commonwealth is too spread out
(b) when no one is looking
(c) when there are guidelines
(d) when there is no commonwealth

4. What example does Hobbes give to support his idea that just banding together is not enough for protection?
(a) A flock of birds cannot defeat the cat.
(b) Twenty sheep cannot fight off a pack of wolves.
(c) A hundred rabbits can scare a hunter.
(d) Two families joined are not powerful enough to combat three families.

5. What is needed to be able to judge what is just or unjust?
(a) statistics
(b) judges
(c) contracts
(d) lawyers

6. What, left uncontrolled, does Hobbes say can lead to misery and unhappiness?
(a) competition, harmful shyness, and vain glory
(b) personality, education, and drive
(c) hunger, alcohol, and hedonism
(d) pride, sloth, and gluttany

7. What kind of idea does Hobbes classify as good wit?
(a) one open to argument and debate
(b) one so unique that nobody else would have thought of it
(c) one that produces only good results
(d) one that everyone can agree to

8. When a multitude becomes one group, what must they select?
(a) the furniture that is appropriate for a group
(b) an appropriate meeting place large enough to accomodate all
(c) a representative who is trusted by all the group members
(d) a set of rules, regulations, and by-laws

9. When many people first get together, what are they called?
(a) A hodge podge
(b) A gaggle
(c) A mob
(d) A multitude

10. Why does Hobbes insist that the commonwealth is born out of human politics?
(a) It is established on scientific principles only.
(b) It is established on a basis of faith in God.
(c) It is established in obedience, laws, peace, charity and civil society
(d) It is established on the basis of the good of the soverign.

11. Why does Hobbes say that having friends, followers, and servants is the greatest power?
(a) Being liked and respected makes people good managers and motivators.
(b) With friends, followers, and servants one does not need to work.
(c) Having these, one does not need anything else.
(d) Having these, one does not need to go to war.

12. Which two forms of government need not worry about succession?
(a) neither a communist nor an empire
(b) neither a republic nor a dictatorship
(c) neither a democracy nor an aristocracy
(d) neither a monarchy nor an anarchy

13. Where can a monarch go for advice?
(a) public opinion polls
(b) special elections
(c) only to God
(d) counsel he has appointed for that purpose

14. What does Hobbes call the intention to do wrong or harm another?
(a) nothing illegal
(b) absence of forethought
(c) a bad idea
(d) injustice before the action is carried out

15. Why do people want to make a covenant and select sovereigns?
(a) to prevent having to relinquish freedoms
(b) to be like the other commonweaths around them
(c) to rid themselves of political uneasiness
(d) to allow for orderly disagreement

Short Answer Questions

1. What option does Hobbes say everyone has?

2. How does Hobbes classify discourse that cannot be proven?

3. What seems to be a contradiction in Hobbes' attitude toward protest?

4. What does Hobbes say about controlling thoughts?

5. What needs to be given to the shy people?

(see the answer keys)

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